Company Ownership

Kraft Foods was spun off from tobacco company Altria (formerly Philip Morris) in March 2007. Bought Cadbury in 2010. In October 2012 Kraft Foods split into two public companies: a global snacks business named Mondelez International, and a North American grocery business called Kraft Foods Group Inc.

Company Assessment

Compassion in World Farming is a UK-based organisation which works with the European food industry to encourage and reward commitment, transparency, performance and innovation in the field of animal welfare. In 2008 Cadbury won their Good Egg Award for using only cage-free eggs in it's iconic easter Creme Egg. [Source 2008][More on Animal Rights]

The United Nations Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of 10 values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment, and anti-corruption. However it's non-binding nature has been widely criticised, and many signatory corporations continue to violate the Compact's values.[Source x][More on Sustainability Reporting]

This company received a score of 9 out of a possible total of 9 in the WWF Palm Oil Buyers' Scorecard 2016, which rates companies on what they are - and aren't - doing to prevent the negative environmental and social impacts of palm oil production.[Source 2016][More on Palm Oil]

The Access to Nutrition Index (ATNI) is a global initiative that evaluates the world's largest food and beverage manufacturers on their policies, practices and performance related to undernutrition and obesity. Of the 22 companies ranked this company came 5th.[Source 2018][More on Product Safety]

This company received a score of 2.5/100 (retrieved 14-Feb-2018) in the Corporate Information Transparency Index (CITI), a system for evaluating supply chain practices in China, particularly in regards to environmental management and water pollution. Scores are calculated using government compliance data, online monitoring data, and third-party environmental audits, as well as trends in the environmental performance of factories in the company's supply chains.[Source 2018][More on Habitats]

In 2018 volunteers collected and catalogued more than 187,000 pieces of trash from beach cleanups around the world to find out which corporations are contributing the most to the global plastic pollution problem. This company ranked as one of the world's top 10 plastic polluters.[Source 2018][More on Oceans]

This company sources palm oil from at least 20 of the 25 dirty palm oil producers identified in the 2018 Greenpeace report "The Final Countdown". In addition to deforestation, the 25 individual cases in the report include evidence of exploitation and social conflicts, illegal deforestation, development without permits, plantation development in areas zoned for protection and forest fires linked to land clearance.[Source 2018][More on Palm Oil]

Rank a Brand searches the websites of brands for the answers to carefully targeted questions. From this they calculate sustainability scores based on the themes of environment, climate, labor issues, and transparency. Brands owned by this company received an 'E', the lowest possible score.[Source 2016][More on Sustainability Reporting]

This company scores Ethical Consumer's worst rating for their use of palm oil, signifying they are using no or minimal certified palm products, and with no or minimal positive commitments.[Source 2019][More on Palm Oil]

In 2018, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change Score of D.[Source 2018][More on Climate Change]

This website by German NGO Earth Link rates companies on their corporate policies against child labour, production monitoring and accusations of child labour. This company received at least one red mark, indicating poor performance in one or more of these areas.[Source 2013][More on Human Rights]

The 2017 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assessed 98 of the largest publicly traded companies in the world from the Agricultural Products, Apparel and Extractives sectors on 100 human rights indicators. This company's score was in the 20-29 band range. The overall average score was 28.7%.[Source 2017][More on Human Rights]

In 2018 KnowTheChain benchmarked 120 large global companies in the ICT, Food & Beverage, and Apparel & Footwear sectors on their efforts to address forced labour and human trafficking in their supply chains. This company received a score of 33/100.[Source 2018][More on Workers Rights]

As You Sow's 2019 report, 'The 100 Most Overpaid CEOs', reveals the 100 most overpaid CEOs from USA's 500 largest public companies (as determined by the S&P 500 list). This company's CEO, Dirk Van de Put came in at number 4 on the list, having been paid US$42,442,924 in 2018. According to the report, "Most CEOs have come to be grossly overpaid, and that overpayment is harmful to the companies, the shareholders, the customers, the other employees, the economy, and society as a whole."[Source 2019][More on Finance]

In 2019 the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said that Kraft Heinz and Mondelez International will pay $16m in penalty regarding a wheat manipulation case that dates back to 2015. The CFTC said Kraft and Mondelez came up with a strategy to purchase and stand for delivery on more than 3,000 futures contracts, priced at about $90m, to send the market a false signal that the companies had demand for wheat. The lawsuit was filed by wheat futures and options traders who accused Kraft and Mondelez of illegally manipulating the grain's price at their expense.[Source 2019][More on Finance]

The Organic Consumers Association and allies has called for a boycott of all Kraft products for their use of genetically modified foods. In the USA, Kraft Foods uses milk from cows given genetically engineered Bovine Growth Hormone, developed by Monsanto. GMO bovine growth hormone produces milk that is less nutritious, is contaminated with pus, and has elevated levels of IGF-1. Elevated levels of IGF-1 are correlated with increased rates of cancer.[Source 2011][More on Genetic Engineering]

In September 2000 Friends of the Earth exposed the illegal starlink corn in Kraft taco shells, forcing a massive recall of this genetically engineered corn that had not been approved for human consumption.[Source 2000][More on Genetic Engineering]

Kraft Foods was subject to an international Boycott from 1993 to 2003 as a subsidiary of the Altria Group - formerly Philip Morris, the largest tobacco company in the world. However in March 2007, Kraft Foods was spun off and is now an independent publicly held company.[Source x][More on Product Safety]

In 2015 As You Sow, a consumer health protection organization, commissioned testing to measure levels of lead and cadmium in 42 chocolate products available at retailers across California. Products by this company were found to contain unsafe levels of lead and cadmium.[Source 2015][More on Product Safety]

Friends of the Earth's 2014 report "Tiny Ingredients, Big Risks" names this company as one of over 200 transnational food companies engaged in nanotechnology research and development, and on their way to commercializing products. New studies are adding to a growing body of scientific evidence indicating nanomaterials may be toxic to humans and the environment.[Source 2014][More on Product Safety]

This International Labor Rights Forum report highlights corporations known for violating workers' freedom of association and right to organise. This company, previously Kraft Foods, was selected on the basis of their ties to violence against trade unions and suppression of the universal right to organise. [Listed under Information due to age of report][Source 2009][More on Workers Rights]

In March 2011 Kraft Foods, Unilever and Dr. Oetker were fined US$53.2m for illegally sharing 'competition-relevant information' by German competition authorities. [Listed under Information due to age of court finding][Source 2011][More on Governance]

Strong financial and structural connections between Kraft (as the corporate purchaser) and Rainforest Alliance (as the standard setting and certification group) are a conflict of interest, as Kraft has obvious incentives to meet its publicly declared purchasing commitments at the lowest possible cost. Kraft is listed in Rainforest Alliance's annual report as a donor that gave between $100,000'$999,999 in 2008 and supported Rainforest Alliance events with more than $10,000 in the same year. Former Kraft executive Annemieke Wijn is a member of the Rainforest Alliance's Board of Directors.[Source x][More on Governance]

In 2010 Kraft responded to Greenpeace evidence of the Sinar Mas group's destructive practices by cancelling their contracts with the Indonesian palm oil and paper giant. Greenpeace has documented Sinar Mas repeatedly breaking industry guidelines, Indonesian law and its own public statements, razing rainforests to the ground in its race to produce palm oil. [Source 2011][More on Palm Oil]

As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: remove commodity-driven deforestation from all supply chains by 2020.[Source 2017][More on Climate Change]

Compassion in World Farming is a UK-based organisation which works with the European food industry to encourage and reward commitment, transparency, performance and innovation in the field of animal welfare. Mondelez won their Good Dairy Commendations in 2013 for their efforts in Europe to source milk for their Philadelphia cheeses from farms with outdoor grazing and the best welfare conditions.[Source 2013][More on Animal Rights]

This company is a member of Bonsucro - Better Sugar Cane Initiative, a global non-profit, multi-stakeholder organisation fostering the sustainability of the sugarcane sector through its leading metric-based certification scheme and its support for continuous improvement for members.[Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

This company is a member of the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), an international membership organization representing more than 100 member companies across the cocoa value chain. WCF is committed to creating a sustainable cocoa economy through economic & social development and environmental stewardship in cocoa-growing communities.[Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

This company has signed up to the World Cocoa Foundation's frameworks to combat deforestation in Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, signifying commitments on forest protection and restoration, and sustainable cocoa production and farmer livelihoods.[Source 2017][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

This company is a member of the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (Sedex), a not-for-profit, membership organisation that leads work with buyers and suppliers to deliver improvements in responsible and ethical business practices in global supply chains. Tens of thousands of companies use Sedex to manage their performance around labour rights, health & safety, the environment and business ethics.[Source 2018][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

The Forest 500 identifies, ranks, and tracks the governments, companies and financial institutions worldwide that together could virtually eradicate tropical deforestation. Rankings are based on their public policies and commitments and potential impacts on tropical forests in the context of forest risk commodities (palm oil, soya, beef, leather, timber, and pulp and paper). This company received a score of 3/5.[Source 2018][More on Forests]

In 2016 Greenpeace published a report on the progress towards zero deforestation in the palm oil supply chains of several multinational companies. Companies were assessed on three criteria: responsible sourcing, transparency and industry reform. This company was rated as 'getting there'. [Source 2016][More on Palm Oil]

In their 2017 report 'Feeding Ourselves Thirsty', Ceres looks at how food sector companies are responding to water risks. 42 companies were assessed on a 0-100 point basis across four categories of water management: governance and strategy, direct operations, manufacturing supply chain and agricultural supply chain. This company received a score of 31/100.[Source 2017][More on Habitats]

The Union of Concerned Scientists' 2015 Palm Oil Scorecard scores America's top brands on their commitments to use deforestation-free palm oil. This company received a score of 36.8/100, signifying some commitment.[Source 2015][More on Palm Oil]

Green America's 2016 Chocolate Scorecard rates companies on their use of ethically sourced, organic and non-GMO ingredients in their chocolate products. This company received a 'C' grade, as they only certify a portion of their chocolate products at present.[Source 2016][More on Workers Rights]

California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.[Source 2017][More on Human Rights]

The 2017 Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) report ranks global food companies on how they are managing and reporting their farm animal welfare policies and practices. This company appeared in tier 4, "Making Progress on Implementation", with tier 1 being the best, and tier 6 the worst.[Source 2018][More on Animal Rights]

Oxfam's 2016 Behind the Brands Scorecard assesses the agricultural sourcing policies of the world's 10 largest food and beverage companies. It exclusively focuses on publicly available information that relates to the policies of these companies on their sourcing of agricultural commodities from developing countries. This company scored 41% (some progress).[Source 2016][More on Governance]

OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.[Source 2014]

Contact Details

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Related News

Kraft buys Cadbury3rd Feb 2010 — Kraft Foods (USA), the world's second largest food company, clinched a takeover deal for UK confectioner Cadbury, after winning support from shareholders representing 72 per cent of the chocolate company. In Jan 2010 the Cadbury board unanimously recommended that it's shareholders sell to Kraft after Kraft revised their offer. [source]

Kraft to buy Cadbury. Will they keep fair trade agreements?20th Jan 2010 — The Cadbury board has unanimously recommended that it's shareholders sell to Kraft after Kraft revised their offer. Shareholders have until February 2 to accept the proposal. This has possible implications for Cadbury's plans to use Fairtrade cocoa in their Dairy Milk chocolate bars. [source]

Cadbury Dairy Milk to go Fairtrade in 201026th Aug 2009 — Cadbury's plans to achieve Fairtrade certification on their Dairy Milk chocolate by Easter 2010. The UK confectioner, which launched Fairtrade Dairy Milk in Britain and Ireland earlier this year, advised that they would extend their commitment to Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Canada. [source]

Cadbury takes palm oil out17th Aug 2009 — Consumers secured an important victory with Cadbury reversing its previous decision to put palm oil in its dairy milk chocolate. This will include all dairy milk chocolate made in Australia and New Zealand. [source]